IN A WHO LET THE DAWGS OUT AFFAIR, THE RIVER DOGS PREVAIL OVER TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS IN AN ETOBICOKE BASEBALL ASSOCIATION (EBA) 13U PEEWEE SELECT LOOP BATTLE AT CHRISTIE PITS
Under a duvet of warm and serene skies, the York 13U River Dogs prevailed 7-5 over the Toronto Playgrounds 13U Blue in a five inning Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) 13U Select Loop game tonight at Christie Pits Diamond 2.
York 13U threatened in the top half of the first inning, Following a leadoff walk, Ethan (11) swiped his way around the horn to third base with a pair of derring-do steals.
Showing no patience for such chicanery, TP 13U Blue starter Billy (24) chalked up three consecutive strikeouts to end the threat and keep the River Dogs off the scoring ledger in the first frame.
Taking tiger mountain by strategy, Toronto Playgrounds tallied a run in the bottom of the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead.
After stroking a one out single, TP 13U Blue baserunner Jackson (22) turned on the afterburners and stole a pair of bases to get into optimal scoring position at third base.
Seizing the opportunity, Jack (1) muscled a 6-3 groundout that allowed Jackson to motor home with the opening run of the game.
Unfazed, York 13U starter Aiden (30) reeled off three groundouts to curtail the TP insurgency in the first frame.
TP 13U Blue starter Billy retired the York 13U batting order in 1-2-3 fashion in the top of the second inning with a fly out and two scintillating strikeouts that kept the River Dogs offense mired in the dawg pound.
Billy was also the beneficiary of a nice defensive play from TP centre fielder Jackson in the second frame. As Alex (81) lead off the inning with a fly ball to the outfield, Jackson battled the glare of the setting sun to complete a nifty E-Street Shuffle catch to ring up the first out in top vector of the second inning.
With the wind in their sails, TP 13U Blue added two more runs to their Bitcoin account in the bottom portion of the second frame to widen their upper hand to 3-0.
After Grover (11) reached base on a hit by pitch to lead off the inning, Rishi (19) drew a walk that put two ducks on the pond.
With two outs and TP runners at third and second base, Liam (28) delivered a clutch two RBI single that brought Grover and Rishi home with a pair of TP 13U Blue runs.
York 13U starter Aiden tallied a strikeout, pop out and a groundout to douse the TP outbreak in the second frame.
Taking a measure of umbrage at their situation, the York 13U offense stirred to life in the top of the third inning as they rallied with a four spot to take a 4-3 lead.
After a one out walk by Sina (14), Marlowe (9) reached base on a hit by pitch that placed two River Dogs on the dance floor.
With two outs, Aiden delivered a clutch RBI single that moved Marlowe to third base and allowed Sina to charge home with the River Dogs first run of the game.
After Aiden had aggressively advanced to second base with a stolen base following his RBI hit, Marlowe took advantage of the situation and blazed home with a River Dogs run that trimmed the gap to one.
Following a walk by Kalaeb (21) that put two York runners on base, Alex stroked a RBI hit that advanced Kalaeb to third and brought Aiden home with the Rive Dogs tying run.
Nathan (4) followed with a RBI single that allowed Kalaeb to bolt homeward with York 13U’s go ahead run.
In a lionhearted effort, TP 13U Blue reliever Gabe (72) chalked up two strikeouts against the River Dogs in the third frame.
Answering the clarion call, Toronto Playgrounds replied with a run in the bottom portion of the third inning to deadlock the proceedings at 4-4.
After garnering a two out walk, Brayden (9) stole two bases with aplomb to get into scoring position at third base.
With unflappable poise, Brady (7) delivered a RBI double that brought Brayden home with TP 13U Blue’s game tying run.
York 13U starter Aiden rang up a fly out, groundout and a strikeout to subdue the TP dissent in the third frame.
Not to be outdone, York 13U answered back with a run in the top of the fourth inning to retake the lead 5-4.
After garnering a two out walk, Sina fired up the turbocharger and stole two bases to advance over to third base.
As TP uncorked a wild pitch, Sina pounced on the opportunity like a yellowmouth barracuda and zoomed home to score the River Dogs go ahead run with a dramatic slide at the dish.
With authority, TP 13U Blue reliever Gabe wheeled and dealed three strikeouts to finish off the York coup d’état in the fourth frame.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, TP 13U Blue threatened after Gabe and Liam garnered respective walks that put two runners on the base.
Unperturbed, York 13U reliever Emmett (1) sandwiched a pair of groundouts around a strikeout to dissolve the TP revolution in the fourth frame.
York 13U tacked on two insurance runs in the top of the fifth inning to stretch their plurality to 7-4.
After stroking a two out single, Aiden swiped a pair of bases that moved him into scoring position at third base.
Kalaeb followed with a RBI hit that allowed Aiden to hustle homeward with a River Dogs run.
Following a single by Alex that advanced Kalaeb to third base, Nathan delivered a RBI hit that moved Alex to third base and brought Kalaeb home with another York run.
TP 13U Blue reliever Brayden entered the fray from the bullpen to ring up a strikeout to put the kibosh on the River Dogs insurrection in the fifth frame.
Refusing to go quietly into the night, Toronto Playgrounds continued to put up a fight in their final at bats in the bottom vector of the fifth frame.
After Jackson and Jack drew back to back walks to lead off the inning, Grover subsequently delivered a two out RBI single that allowed Jackson to motor home with a TP run that trimmed the deficit to 7-5.
Following a two out walk by Rishi that loaded the bases, York 13U closer Ethan chalked up a strikeout that left the bases loaded and sealed the deal on the River Dogs hard fought victory over TP 13U Blue.
